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9 August 2024 Aberrant White Eye Coloration in Two Red-Bellied Woodpeckers (Picidae: Melanerpes carolinus) from Florida
Eamon C. Corbett, Nancy Kase, Wendy C. Milstein, Thomas Michel Ambiel
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Abstract

Color anomalies can provide insight into the mechanisms of bird pigmentation. However, records of anomalous eye color in bird species are sparse in the literature. Here, we report 2 observations of Melanerpes carolinus (Red-bellied Woodpecker) in Florida with bright white irises. We examine possible explanations for this phenotype and conclude that a genetic mutation affecting pteridine pigmentation is a possible cause. We encourage researchers to document birds with aberrant eye coloration, which may lead to a greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying eye color.

Eamon C. Corbett, Nancy Kase, Wendy C. Milstein, and Thomas Michel Ambiel "Aberrant White Eye Coloration in Two Red-Bellied Woodpeckers (Picidae: Melanerpes carolinus) from Florida," Southeastern Naturalist 23(3), N24-N28, (9 August 2024). https://doi.org/10.1656/058.023.0308
Published: 9 August 2024
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